Explanations of Resistance to Social Influence

Question 1

Locus of control description

Answer 1

a persons perception of personal control over their own behaviour

Question 2

high internal LOC

Answer 2

perceive themselves as being in control of their behaviour
more self-confident
less need for social approval
less likely to obey/ conform

Question 3

high external LOC

Answer 3

perceive their behaviour as being controlled by outside forces
more likely to obey/ conform

Question 4

evidence for- replication of milgrams

Answer 4

replicated milgrams study
37% of internals did not continue to 450v
only 23% did not continue to 450v
supports the LOC theory

Question 5

Evidence againsts- ppl have become more resistant

Answer 5

twenge et al
analysed obedience over a 40y period
ppl have become more resistant but also more external
if resistance was linked to LOC ppl would have become more internal

Question 6

social support description

Answer 6

pressure to conform is most powerful when a group is unanimous
pressure to obey is most powerful when everyone obeys
if one person resist (dissenter), others will resist
demonstrate how to resist
demonstrate the consequences of resisting

Question 7

evidence for- Asch’s Lines

Answer 7

when one group had a dissenter
conformity dropped from 37% to 25%
supports view that social support helps resistance to social influence

Question 8

evidence for - Milgram

Answer 8

when ppts where ordered to give electric shocks with allies present , obedience dropped from 67% to 10%
allies freed up ppt to disobey
supports social support explanation